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Mighty Saharan sand dunes

Mighty Saharan sand dunes, a wild and remote coastline, deep canyons, empty plateaus, spring fed oases and ancient cities scoured by scorching desert winds dominate the country of Mauritania. The country is three-fourths desert or semi desert and has a climate that is hot and dry with frequent sandstorms.

The name Mauritaniais derived from the Latin Mauretania, meaning "west", and the country lies on the western edge of the continent of Africa. Mauritania borders Senegal to the south, Mali to the southeast, Algeria to the northeast, and the Western Sahara to the north, with the capital, Nouakchott on the long Atlantic coast.

Mauritania is approximately twice the size of France, but with a population of about 3 million is one of the least densely populated countries in the world. The inhabitants are divided between White Moors of Arab/Berber origin, the Arabic-speaking Black Moors, descendents of slaves, and black Africans principally from the Fulani, Wolof and Soninke tribes. The African peoples in the south are either semi-nomadic cattle herders or settled farmers engaging in agriculture, while the Moors in the north historically had a nomadic desert lifestyle, travelling great distances with their camels and goats. The ancient Saharan caravan towns, with their date palm groves and extensive libraries, all testify to vibrant civilisations and trading routes all over theWestern Sahara.

Mauritania’s traditional lifestyle and culture have undergone tremendous upheaval in the past 30-40 years, largely as a consequence of the great Sahel droughts of the 1970s and 80s which destroyed the crops of subsistence farmers and the livestock of the nomadic herders. Mauritania was previously 85% nomadic. Now, however, the majority of Mauritanians live in urban areas as the recurrent droughts sparked a massive exodus from rural areas to Mauritania’s capital, Nouakchott and several smaller regional capitals. Nouakchott was one of the fastest growing cities in the world during the 1970s and 80s, growing at 10-15% per year and increasing from a modest town of approximately 40,000 in 1970 to a city of approximately 1 million inhabitants today, approximately one- third of Mauritania’s entire population.

Mauritania has begun to tap into recently discovered offshore oil reserves and has pinned hopes for future economic growth and prosperity on the export of petroleum products and minerals. Its main exports are currently fish, fish products and iron ore. Although the mining sector is growing, most of Mauritania’s people still eke out a living by subsistence farming. During the short rainy season in the summer, Mauritania’s cities empty dramatically as the urban migrants return to their rural roots to cultivate fields of millet, corn, beans, sorghum and even rice in some areas where irrigation is available. Also during the summer, even those that are not tending fields try to get out of the city and enjoy sitting under tents, drinking milk and feasting on freshly-roasted meat and celebrating the “Geitna,” the annual date harvest.

In spite of all the changes Mauritanian society has undergone, one thing has remained constant: the desert tradition of hospitality. Whatever their ethnic background, economic level or whether they live in the city or the desert, Mauritanians pride themselves on their welcome towards strangers. This welcome is symbolized in the offer of a bowl of a sweet fermented milk drink and they will spend hours chatting with friends and visitors alike whilst preparing and drinking the traditional three glasses of sweet mint tea.

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